Mouthpiece



June 30, 1936. W T, PARK|N 2,045,674

MOUTHPIECE l Filed Aug. 24, 1955 Patented .lune 30, 1936 vV Unirse STATES MOUTHPIECE Winfred T. Parkin, Providence, R. I., assigner, by mesne assignments, toV Stellar Corporation, Providence, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application August 2 4, 1935, Serial No. 37,649 solaims. (crm-,185)

The present invention relates to the mouthpieces of telephone transmitters, speaking tubes, and other voice transmitting apparatus, and has for its general object, the provision of improved means for preventing the accumulation of dust, moisture, and germs on or insuch mouthpieces, and the attainment of such cleanliness and hygienic advantageswith improvement, rather than impairment, of the voice transmitting effectiveness of the transmitter.

The present invention makes use of the general principles of the invention disclosed and claimed in the prior application of Frederick C. Kauffmann, deceased, Ser. No. 2467 led January 19, 1935, and comprises improvements in the apparatus disclosed in said application. The preferred form of apparatus disclosed in said prior application, comprises a part adapted for detachable connection to the rim of a telephone mouthpiece opening and having means adapted to hold a thin paper or analogous sheet engaging said means in a position in which the sheet extends across, and forms a protective curtain for, the mouthpiece opening, and comprises a member which is hinge connected to said part to turn into and out of the position in which it extended across the mouthpiece aperture, and which is provided with means for releasably so holding a pile of sheets that when said member is turned into its mouthpiece closing position, the end sheet of said pile is brought into engagement with said holding means, if the latter is not then in engagement with a sheet previously brought into engagement therewith.

O ne specific obj ect of the present invention is to provide apparatus such as the above mentioned apparatus of said prior application, with improved provisions for detaching an end sheet from the pile held in the cover' member, when the latter is turned into its open position, and for holding the detached sheet in front of the mouthpiece opening, until that sheet is removed for replacement by the then end sheet of the pile held in the cover member. Another specific object of the invention is to provide an arrangement facilitating the renewal of the sheet material holding means. A further specific object .of the invention is to provide a connection between the cover member and its supporting part Vwhich will effectively insure that the end sheet of the pile heldin the cover member is brought into proper relation with the material holding means,k when the cover member is turned intoits closed-position, regardless of the number of sheets in, and thickness of, the pile.

The various features of novelty which characterize the present invention are pointed out with vwhich is or may be generally cylindrical, and. a `portion Dwhich extends radially outward from particularity in the claims annexed to, and formv ing a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, its advantages, and specic objectsattained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying 5 drawing and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the present invention. j Of the drawing: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a so-called French telephone having its transmitter mouthpiece provided with a preferred form of the present invention, and with a movable part thereof displaced from its normal position;

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the broken line .2 2 15 kof Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial section taken similarly to` Fig. 2, with the parts shown in slightly different relative positions as a result of a difference in the conditions of use; and

Fig. 4 is a view taken similarly to Fig. 2, illustrating a modified construction; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 4 and illustrating the parts thereof in different relative positions.

In ,the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 3, there is detachably connected to the vrim A surrounding and defining the mouthpiece chamber B of the transmitter C of a hand telephone of the wellknown French type, a device comprising a Asupporting member D, a cover member E, and an intermediate member F, which, like the member E, is hinge connected to the member D.

i' The supporting member D is preferably formed of thinsheet metal, and in the form shown, comprises a flat annular portion D adapted to bear against the end edge of the mouthpiece rim A,

and flange portions D2 and D3, which extend away from the inner and outer edges respectively, of the portion D', at the side of the latter adjacent 40 the mouthpiece rim. rThe inner flange D2, which enters the mouthpiece opening, is generally cylin- A drical, and is provided with outwardly bent spring finger extensions D4 bearing against the inner surface of the mouthpiece rim which converges ftoward the mouthpiece opening, so as to hold the memberD in place, detachably, but with suitable security. '.'I'he outer flange D3 comprises a short portion immediately adjacent the portion D',

the edge of said cylindrical portion remote from the portion D', and merges into an outer cylindrical portion D6. The latter extends about the and gives edge finish,y to the support mouthpiece rtains.

D, and also serves, as do the other flange portions of the support D, to give stiiness to the latter. At one side, the iiange portion D3 is formed with spaced apart extensions D'I bent about and forming an anchorage for the ends of a hinge pintle G, by which the members E and F are each hinge connected to the support D.

The intermediate member F comprises an annular portion F which is parallel to and immediately in front of the support portion D in the normal position of the member F shown in Fig.. 2, and inner and outer transverse flange portions F3 and F3. The latter, in the normal position of the member F, respectively overlap Vthe support iiange portions D2 and D3 of the supporting member D, with which the member F is then i-n frictional and resilient engagement, whereby the member F is yieldingly held in its normal position. An extension F4 from the outer flange F3 is bent about a central portion of the pintle G, and thereby-hinge connects the part F to the support D. the ilat por-tion F `of the member F, are formed short arc shaped slots F5 at intervals about the axis of the member. In the preferred construction illustrated, threesuch slots are equally spaced about said axis. Y Y

In the normal condition of the apparatus, the slots F5 register with and receive arc shaped projections D8 from the -outer surface of the portion D'v ofthe support D, and said projections force outwardly away from the outer surface ofthe portion- F, portions of flexible bodies H which then extend across the ends `of the projections D8 and each of which has an adhesive outer surface. The bodies H may be formed of any flexible material having the required adhesive property. .In particular, they may be formed by Working latex o n, vand into, a cloth foundation at the outer side of the latter which is exposed through --the apertures F5 in the normal condition of the apparatus. yEach body H Ahas edge portions `overlapping and pressed 'into adhering engagement -Withthe inner side of the portion F' at the margin of the corresponding slot F5 therein. With the described arrangement, when the intermediate member F is turned out of its intermediate position, each body H may be readily renewed, if and when as a resultof age, use, or other cause, the portion of the body exposed Ythrough 'the slot F5 loses its desiredV adhesive properties. Advantageously, and as shown, the projections Dakare hollow bosses formed by -a stamping or press action on the thin .sheet metal of which the support D is formed. e Y

The cover member E is preferably :formed of sheet-metal, and comprises a body portion in the V,form of a flat disc,'slightly larger in diameter thanthe member D, and a narrowrim or trans- Versemarginal flange E which surroundsthe por- :tion D',and immediately adjacent portion of its -flange D3, when the member E is in ,the closed Vposition as shown in Fig..2. The member E .thus provides a shallow storage spaceor-receptacle for a pile-of sheets I of thin paper or `.other material adapted for successive use as mouthpiece cur- As shown, the pile of sheets I is normally lheld in place inthe cover receptacle by integral -extensions E2 from the edge -of the rim portion E, which lare bent into substantial parallelism 4with, but are spaced away from thev disc-like hinge portion F.

If at a time at which no sheet G is already engaged by the bodies H and held in a position in which it extends across the mouthpiece opening, the member E is turned into its closed position, the end sheet I of the pile held in the member E, willbe brought into adhering engagement with the bodies H. The sheet so engaged by the bodies H will adhere to the latter, and thereby be retained in Acurtain relation with the mouthpiece opening, when the member E is next turned .iinto its open position, the edges of the sheet so Vengaged'then yielding to disengage from the pile holding fingers E3.

The l:member E is 'releasably held in its closed position Vshown in Fig. 2, by means shown as compris-ing 'a resilient extension E4 from the side of the .rim ,portion E remote from its hinge connection to the support D, and adapted to yieldingly engagea. more or less resilient linger or projection D9 .from the part D. As shown, the end of the 'projection 'E4 is shaped to stand away from the part D9 sulicien'tly for its ready engagement by the finger nail of .the telephone user, when the latter wishes to turn the cover E into its open position.

In the preferred form of the present invention, .the connection between the members D and E is vsuch that in the closed position of the latter, the portions of the end sheet I of the pile held in .the member E, will be pressed snugly toward fz.'

:the 4bodies H and their supporting projections DB., regardless o'f whether lthe number of sheets then in t'he pile 'is themaximum 'which the memv'ber E can hold, or is a smaller number, so that the lpilelis o'fa 'thickness less than its maximum.

Vresult is obtained with vthe construction shown, by so shaping the hinge projections E3, that ,the bearing sleeve forthepintleG which they form, 4is' ofV a depth 'in the direction transverse to'lthe disc'body .portion of the member'E, which .g

-i`s appreciablyV greater than 'the pintle diameter. ,Iniconsequenca When the appreciable, though relatively small, pressure required vto move the ,projection E4 intooperative engagement with the projection D9 is applied to the outer side of the member iE, the member 'E will be bodily pressed toward'the memberF at a'll points around 'their common vaxis and thereby insure the proper en- .'gagement of the portions of sheet I in front of ,the bodies'I-I with each of the latter, regardless ,f the' number o'f sheets in the pile.

When 'a curtain sheet I is pressed into snug .engagement withbodies H, spaced as illustrated and described, 'the .curtain sheet will be so at- Vtached'to the SupportD, that the soundproduoed 5:;

air pressure variationsto which'it is subjected in 'the normal use .ofthemouthpiece with which it is associated, willproduceno rustling or `other curtain noise audib'leinthe' receiver to which sounds are'jtransmitted by the transmitter, such as I have "found to 'be Vproduced when the curtain lsheet is not snugly .attached'toportions of the support Dat points suitably distributed Varound .the mouthpieceaxis. A curtain sheet supported as "described,4 improves sound transmission, primarily, `as 'I"believe, 'by'eliminating or minimizing 'the effects 'of Aroom noises.

"The modified Aform of apparatus illustrated in L4, 'includes' parts'DA, EA, and FA, correspondrespectively, tothe parts D, E, and F of the construction rst 'described,'but differing therefrom slightly in 'respectto the manner in which the parts are connected. In Fig. '4 the intermediate' part FA'is not hinge connected toeither of "the "parts 'DA `and EA, but-is separable therefrom, though Anormally held in resilient and frictional engagement with the part DA. Except for the omission of a hinge connection portion, the member FA may be exactly like the member F. Advantageously, and as shown, however, the members FA and DA have cooperating provisions facilitating their assemblage with the projections D8 of the part DA in register with the slots F5 of the' part FA. The provisions for the purpose shown, comprise pockets or recesses F6 formed in the flange portion F3 of the part FA, which, in the normal position of the latter, resiliently receive hollow boss or projection portions D10 carried by the flange portion D3 of the member DA. Except for its portions D10, the member DA need not differ from the member D first described.

With the intermediate member readily separable from the other parts of the device, the replacement of the bodies H may be eiected a little more readily, under some conditions, than when the intermediate member is hinge connected to the other parts of the device. In general, however, I consider that this advantage is less important than the avoidance of all risk of loss or misplacement of a separable part there-l of, which is insured by the non-detachable connection of the parts in the construction first described.

The member EA may be identical in form with the member E, but, as shown, the member EA includes but a single hinge connection projection E30, and the latter is bent snugly about the hinge pintle G, so that the device shown in Fig. 4 does not have the lost motion in the hinge connection between the support and cover parts, provided in the construction rst described, and which I consider ordinarily desirable, because of its above described compensation for variations in thickness of the pile of sheets I held in the cover member.

As will be apparent, the invention, in either of the forms illustrated, may readily be adapted for use with transmitter mouthpieces quite different in form from the one shown in the drawing herein, by suitable changes in proportions, and in the transmitter engaging fingers or portions of the support member. It seems unnecessary, however, to illustrate such adaptability of the apparatus, particularly as. the above mentioned prior application illustrates the use of the general features of the invention therein disclosed and utilized herein, in connection with transmitter mouthpieces of different forms.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best forms of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the forms of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. The combination with a part formed with an aperture and adapted for attachment to a voice transmitting mouthpiece and formed with projections at its front side and angularly spaced about the axis of said part, of an apertured member releasably held in front of said part and formed with slots through which said projections extend, adhesive material adhering to said member and including a'p'ortion held in front of each projection and thereby projected through the corresponding slot, and a second member comprising means for releasably holding a pile of sheets and connected to said part for movement into and out of a position in which the end sheet of said pile extends across said aperture in position for engagement by said adhesive material, whereby, when said second member is moved out of said position, thel end sheet may be retained by its engagement with said adhesive material in position to extend across said aperture.

2. The combination with a part formed with an aperture and adapted for attachment to a voice transmitting mouthpiece, of an apertured member hinge-connected to said part for movement into and out of, and normally held in, a position in iront of said part with said apertures in register with one another, sheet material holding means carried by said member, a second member comprising means for releasably holding a pile of sheets and hinge connected to said part for movement into and out of a position in which the end sheet of said pile extends across said apertures in position for engagement by said adhesive material, whereby, when said second member is moved out of said position, the end sheet may be retained by said adhesive material in position to extend across said apertures.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a part formed with an aperture and with a projection at one side, of an apertured member releasably secured to said part at said one side of the latter and formed with a slot through which said projection extends, flexible material comprising a portion extending across each such slot and a marginal extension from said portion between said part and the po-rtion of said member adjacent the margin of said slot and comprising adhesive material by which said extension is secured to the said portion of said member and by which an object engaging the portion of said material extending across such slot may be connected to said member.

4. The combination with an annularl sheet metal part formed with a projection at one side, of an annular member releasably secured to said part at said one side of the latter and formed With a slot through which said projection extends, exible material comprising a portion extending across said slot, and a marginal extension from said portion between said part and the portion of said member adjacent the margin of said slot and having adhesive material at its side exposed through said slot, by which said extension is se`- cured to said member and by which an object engaging the portion thereof extending across such slot may be connected to said material and member.

5. The combination with a part formed with an aperture and adapted for attachment to a voice transmitting mouthpiece, of a member formed with an aperture, said part and member having cooperating parts for releasably holding said member in front of said part With their apertures in register, sheet holding means carried by said member, and a. second member comprising means for releasably holding a pile of sheets and connected tosaid part for movement into and out of a position in which the. end sheet of said pile extends across said apertures in position for engagement by said holding means, whereby, when said second member is moved out of said position, the end sheet may be retained by its engagement with said holding means in position to extend across said apertures.

6. A part formed with an aperture, and in combination therewith, a member comprising means for releasably holding a, pile of sheets, a hinge-connection between said part and member for movement of said member relative to said part into and out of a position in which an end sheet of said pile extends across said aperture, and sheet holding means adapted to be engaged by said end sheet on movement of said member into said position and adapted to detach said end sheet from said holding means and retain it in the position in which it extends across said aperture when said member is moved out of the first mentioned position, said hinge connection permitting bodily movement toward and away from said part of said member, when the latter is in said position, to thereby insure contact of said end sheet with said holding means notwithstanding variations in the thickness of said pile.

WINFRED T. PARKIN. 

